Racism In America
Racism is a Disease
I usually don’t discuss much about politics and laws in this blog. My previous post in support of my very good friends at Nafasg did get to me. There are some things that burn me up here in America and I want to share my opinions with you.
I am a white guy from Mississippi and this post may shock some of you if you are familiar with the idea that Mississippi is considered a racist state. As many of you may know, I am against racism and consider it to be a disease of the human spirit.
It makes me sick to my stomach when I think about how the media and American people support and go crazy over certain news events. One that drove me crazy was the Jean Benet Ramsey case. Had this girl been black, Hispanic or Asian, it would never have had the attention it received.
I live in Long Beach, Mississippi, right on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a beautiful area and I’ve been living here most of my life. Young black people get murdered here all the time. You never hear it in the national news though. Just because someone is white does not make their death any more horrible than any other.
I think the parents of Jean Benet Ramsey are some strange people. I think these beauty contests are very weird. Why on Earth would you dress a four year old girl in sexy clothes? I think people that go see these contests are deranged.
Just seeing a four year old girl dressed up like a showgirl from Las Vegas makes me sick. Is her death more important than the 7 year old black kid that was gunned down 5 miles from my house? Hell no! Why are some deaths sensationalized and some not? It should be illegal to sensationalize any death!
A Death Close To Home
There is a convenient store close to my house. My parents used to own this store. They ended their lease and it sat empty for almost 7 years. Finally, a Vietnamese family bought it and got it running strong.
I knew the family who ran the store. The father, a fifty something year old Vietnamese man, was the most friendly man in the entire town. You couldn’t leave without receiving a warm smile and a big “Thank you” from him. He was really nice and it made you want to shop there.
I did shop there regularly. His wife was a beautiful Vietnamese woman who always wore the loveliest perfume! Me and my buddies would go in the store and flirt with her as long as her husband wasn’t there (hey, we’re respectful).
The best part of the store was their daughter. She was a seventeen year old girl and was one of the most beautiful young women I have ever seen. Me and my friends always stopped in to say hi to her! She was a total sweetheart and we just adored her.
My heart almost stopped one morning when I read she was dead. Some guy waited outside the store one night for her to close up and leave. After closing, she walked out to her car to go home to her parents. She never made it.
This guy raped her and put a plastic bag over her face while he did it. She fought back and survived the rape. She went home and died later that night from head trauma. I had some major tears the following morning. It was so horrible.
Her parents were so distraught, they closed the store. They had lost their baby girl. Me and my friends were so upset we wanted her killer to die. It really hurt us. Imagine how her parents felt. I was sure this little beauty was going to be a movie star or model. Even though it upset the community, it was a tiny blip in the news.
This is something that must be changed in this country. When someone is murdered, why does the colour of their skin make such a big difference? If there is one thing that truly embarrasses me, it is this. I wish things were different.
I did not list the names of this family out of respect for them. The sad look on her father’s face made me cry for days. They were some of the nicest people I have ever met. I used to eat fried rice made for their daily lunches all the time. I really miss them. 
Her killer was caught and is awaiting his sentence. I am actually against the death penalty but when it’s someone you know, it seems like a good idea. May Linda rest in peace.
I wrote a post when I first started blogging about racism and the late great Vernon Johns. He was the true father of the civil rights movement. Please read that post. It was important to me and Vernon Johns was a great man. Learn something new and read, “Racism: The Enemy of Mankind“.
Vernon Johns is one of my idols.
[Tags]american people support, beauty contests, Friendship Support, jean benet ramsey, long beach mississippi, racism, racist state, ramsey case, thought[/Tags]
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I thoroughly agree that racism is a disease of the human spirit. I find it to be utterly repugnant and totally contrary to what benefits the human race.
In fact, and much like you, I almost never discuss such things on my blog either. But racism is one thing that definitely pushes those buttons! Like in my “You Can Take Your Racial Slurs And Stick Them!” post back on August 2nd. Your comment there Bobby was the first comment from you that REALLY let me know what a great person you are. That is the “precise moment” that you gained my total and utmost respect!
Here’s just one of your comments from that post:
“I have to say that you have gained my utmost respect from this post. Racism is one of those things in life that truly make me sick. I live in the heart of a racist community and it has always been tough for me. I had a job once selling cars during the LA race riots. Five big black guys who happened to be good friends of mine told me if a riot started where we were they would hide me in the back to protect me. They said they knew I was not racist and they would never let me get hurt. That was a feeling I could never describe to anyone. It made me feel so special knowing that I had let these guys know just through being friends the kind of person I am. Racism = ignorance. I can’t change the world, but I can certainly not be a racist idiot:)”
It was integral then and it’s integral now. So thanks for this post. Hopefully it will reach those who desperately need to be reached.
Shine on,
Aaron
@Aaron: Thanks Aaron! Racism is my biggest problem with fellow Americans. I am the last person anyone wants to make a racist comment to. I have no problem jumping all over some idiot who looks down on anyone. I had a friend who played piano and listened to a lot of great white composers like Bach & Beethoven, etc.
I let him hear a jazz pianist named Art Tatum from the early Jazz age. After hearing Art Tatum, he said, “That is the most ingenious and skilled musician I have ever heard in my entire life!”
He freaked out when I told him that Art Tatum was black. I did it to teach him a lesson. Art Tatum’s music is still considered by the Julliard School of music to be the greatest musician who ever lived. He could play ANY SONG by ear in any key the first time he heard it. Not only that, he created harmonic improvisations while playing live that defy modern music thoery.
His genius is undeniable. Personally, I think all the greatest musicians are black! Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Dizzy Gillespie are but a few. They don’t get the credit that Bach and Beethoven received. I know for a fact if Bach or any of his genius brothers had heard Art Tatum play piano, they would have loved him!!!! Art Tatum improvised all his great compositions and never needed months or years to write them!
Every race is beautiful and all have something incredible to offer. I stand with all races as none of us are superior!!!:)
BTW, did u read my Spider post?
Btw…
Stumbled!
@Aaron Cook: Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
Racism definitely makes me sick. I just don’t understand how it continues to thrive in this day and age. But I’m sure it has nothing to do with the age we’re in, but more on the people who still keep racism alive in their hearts.
Whether it be for personal reasons or to make a buck it’s sickening and sad.
I’m very sad for Linda and her family. It’s tragic. I’m sure there is some small relief that the killer is in jail.
@Rolando: I don’t think it’s any relief at all. Her family moved back to Vietnam shortly after. All their dreams were destroyed. Linda was so sweet and friendly, it really ruined my year. The store is now owned by someone else. I haven’t gone in there since the murder. I really miss her and her family a lot. Many people may forget, but I will always remember.
Bobby,
I totally agree with you. Even as a kid I was confounded by the idea of choosing friends or judging people based on race, color…any of that. As a lesbian, I face discrimination for something that I could hide (if I chose to) a lot more easily than skin color.
People compare race and sexuality discrimination and, though they are both based on the same type of hatred, the two have little in common simply because race is not something you can choose to express or not. I am not by any means saying that homosexuality is a choice or that people should hide it. I’ve just always thought it was kind of like comparing apples to oranges because the two situations are so drastically different.
My roommate has an eleven-year-old who she has raised to be completely open-minded and he and his friends are amazingly colorblind. He had a kid call him “cracker” a couple of months ago and we had to explain racism to him. He was seriously distraught. It took several days of discussions (and he’s a smart kid!) until he understood that some people really do judge based on color. He was flabbergasted, hurt and very confused. He’s one of those kids who wants the “why?” and we honestly couldn’t give him that answer.
I hope his attitude shows a progression toward acceptance and a more “grown-up” society in general.
Sara
@Sara: I think sexuality or sexual preference has absolutely nothing to do with whether a person is good or not. I think people are who they are.
I have been discriminated against many times and try not to let it get to me. I couldn’t imagine anyone having to deal with it everyday. Letting go of hatred is easy. Some people are just ignorant in this area. I hope that one day, racism will be nothing more than a history lesson. Until then, it is up to INDIVIDUALS to make that choice, not the media!
Yeah I’m sure that catching the killer will not bring Linda back. I’m just glad he’s off the streets. That’s one less out there.
I can’t imagine what they must have gone through, now having to move back to have their dreams destroyed by stupidity.
It’s good that you still remember and honor her.
@Rolando: The guy that killed her was 17 years old. He was just a seemingly normal, neighbourhood kid. He will be going to prison or possibly get the death penalty. I don’t want anyone to die. I don’t think I will miss this kid though. He ruined the lives of so many people. This post is really getting to me:(
Hi Bobby…
Poor girl, and poor u for having to face her loss. We know that u were one of the people who were fond of her.
We won’t touch much on racism in America, but rather, we want to express something about racism in general. Racism to us was something that occurred during the early years when many were uneducated with no paper qualifications. Right now people are given sufficient education and yet racism is still being practised. It is quite a shame that some educated people out there are still into it.
We feel sorry for the demise of the girl, and we hope that such acts can be curbed day by day. Thanks for this post Bobby. =)
And thanks for the little mention too!
@NAFA: Being an American, I can tell you it is all around and is growing instead of dying. People hide their true feelings. The minorities my talk about it but it is the majority who should be. The world proved that Anna Nicole Smith was more important than anyone else when she died. It was just as big of a story as any war. That is sad.
Hi BObby,this is sick,sucha poor thing
It’s ok,cheer up for today, I stumbled your post! (i dunno what it is,but it seems to make u happy :P)
@Mr fong: Yes, it was horrible. I live within a mile of where it happened. You stumbled my post? Thanks!
Bobby,I”M SO SORRY
I tried to stumble it but I do not have an account, a virus seemed to be in the file I downloaded.Is there any way to comfort u… 
Mr fong: Do you use firefox or the Windows IE7 browser? You just need to install the tool bar for stumble! I require no comforting but it is very nice of you!!!!
Yup, there is obvious bias in the News over which stories they air. My boyfriend had a horrible tragedy befall his family when his Aunt and Cousin were both horrifically murdered in their home because of a disgruntled ex husband. The FBI put the rest of the entire extended family into hiding because they thought it was his intention to go after more people yet this didn’t get any real media attention while he was on the loose.
I can only guess, but I think that it may of had to do with the fact that the victims were African Americans. I think if they were white it would have garnered more attention and that is very sad to me.
@Dawn: If OJ Simpson’s wife had been anything other than a blond haired, blue eyed white woman, I don’t believe it would have been as sensationalized. Americans seem to think some murders are “cool” or “worthy” of entertainment value. That is the same thing prevalent in blogging.
People follow certain blogs and bloggers in a frenzied horde. I call it blog discrimination. Everything is reflected in everything; it can be seen in clear detail everywhere.
Rascism exists everwhere…and if its not one having the wrong color and culture and religion ,then its discrimination about something else.People even discriminate and judge others by their cars and clothing….and thats difficult to ever overcome,as the media always tells us vis advertising that we must strive to look a certain way and drive a certain vehicle…then we will be winners! If we dont we may fall into the loser category..
I am sad to hear about this tragic murder,Bobby…every senseless crime that I hear about affects me badly. I wish the world could wake up tomorrow and be a much healthier place, for all of us…
JesseTheCat
@Jesse: What is sad is that people seem to change their views when in the company of any opinionated group. No matter who I talk to, I have my view and will never wear a different mask for every person. Religious groups are the scariest of all. Any religion that sits around pointing out why all others are wrong is not a religion. It is a cult!
There’s racism, based on skin color, and xenophobia (a fear of the unknown: cultural, and more often not based on skin color). I dislike both, and I live in a society that was established by British colonials, who decided to make this vast place a penal colony, simply because they couldn’t plan their society better, because the rich preferred a life of luxury, and a bunch of things. That may sound racist me saying that, but it’s true. I grew up in Australia, as a kid (I was born here too), learning about how our country was ’settled’ (no violence, no exploitation, and so on), and then years later, the entire curriculum changed (particularly when the Mabo case, pertaining to Native Title, came about).
It’s tragic. Many of the social issues that minorities face are due to institutional racism. An example I can give is the White Australia Policy that lasted up until the 1950’s or so, here in Australia. The other issue to explode in more recent years here is the issue that’s termed The Stolen Generation; the government essentially sought to break a culture/indigenous group (culturally and spiritually) by forcing them on the fringes, putting them in settlements, and steadily removing their children (and these children would grow up and have children, for those children to be removed from them and placed in orphanages, a continual cycle that stopped eventually, but the problems that have arisen are terrible. In the Northern Territory there have been cases of child sexual abuse and alcohol abuse. In Australia, the person who will have a higher incidence of glaucoma is an Australian Aboriginal. Our federal government decided (in the last few weeks) to go the ‘Right’ way, and to ban sexual magazines and things in the Northern territory, their easy ‘fix’ or excuse, when they haven’t given a toss for two centuries about these people. Never in my life have I seen a culture so hell bent on breaking a group of a different colour or culture, than the Anglo Saxon culture (no offense to anyone, but I’ve had to endure xenophobia directed toward me from elementary school right up to high school).
It’s a sad story (about the Vietnamese girl), and tragic, because those people want a better life, to give their children opportunities, for that to happen to them, and you know what? It’s a common story. It happens around the world. I remember a story my mother would tell me, about her arrival in Australia from Greece in the late Sixties, and how she was terrified after being pursued by a man and that she was lucky to get away. She hated her entire life here or grew to regret arriving here, and even though we weren’t ‘coloured’, we’d have our nasty neighbors, one of whom would publicly lash out at my mother because of her ‘non-Australian’ accent, telling her to speak proper English. Those moments are moments that a person can never forget, they colour a person’s attitude. For me, I can’t say that I have hatred, but I do avoid certain types of people, especially those who proclaim to be superior or something similar. Once (and it was only the one time), I dated a ‘white’ Australian guy, who’d recently arrived from the UK, for him to come out (during a general conversation), to say that ‘his kind civilized the world,’ and I laughed, because I didn’t know what else to say, and then I felt tremendous pity for him. I can’t believe that the KKK has an official website. I laugh at it, because it’s hideous, but that’s what (unfortunately) is considered freedom of speech (freedom to outwardly hate, and advertise that hatred, and recruit teenagers) in this world. I don’t like it, but it serves certain groups of people or industries, and it’s unfortunate, but what can be done? I’m at a loss.
@Anastasia: Xenophobia is something I have experienced also. I think that nationalism is healthy, but is taken to extremes by many groups of people. In America, the minorities fight to show who they are. This is or should be the job of the majority. I am in the majority, thus I try to avoid celebrating our nationalistic pride.
I try instead to celebrate our similarities instead. Many of my white friends think I am against our own people. I am not. I am however, embarrassed by how my people conduct themselves.
I actually know people who are in the KKK. They tell me I am wrong and have misinterpreted their organization. As long as they generate profits for Google and other search engines, they will remain. Google could virtually eliminate their site from ever being found but apparently they do not care.
It’s the classic, “mine is better than yours mentality”. People reveal themselves in everything they say and write. Most of them are even ignorant of that. Nationalistic pride is a evil idea in many cases.
In my hometown, there is the St. Thomas Church. There is a sister church in the next town over (both have the same name too). A friend of mine said, “I wish the out of town St. Thomas members would stay in their own town and stop polluting our fine church.”
What an idiot he is. I am sure they flash fake smiles at each other every Sunday but hate each other in their hearts.
Oh dear! Another sad post after NAFA’s one on Nurin
I remember the Jean Benet Ramsey case. She was a pretty little girl. I can’t remember what happened in the end though…
@Genie Princess: I don’t really like sad posts but life isn’t always happy. Any child who is murdered is always sad. It’s also sad that America sensationalizes some deaths and ignores the others. I promise to have some happy posts soon!!!!
I often wonder why some people don’t realize that skin color is just that - color. You don’t treat people differently just because they’re wearing different clothes, it should be the same with skin tone.
These people should realize that we’re all connected spiritually, whether we like it or not. We are all different parts of the same light. You discriminate against any part, you’re actually doing it to yourself.
Beautiful post Bobby, thanks.
@Brown Baron: How true! When we show our hatred we show our ignorance and display to the world how insecure we are. I love this comment!
Bobby-
As another white guy who grew up in Mississippi… Hear Hear! I agree with you entirely. I do a lot of inner-city work where I live now, and it just amazes me that small children have no problem with race. It is almost like we are taught to hate as we get older…
Hugh Hollowell’s last blog post..Talking ?Bout A Revolution
@Hugh Hollowell: Hi Hugh! You grew up here? Very cool. You’re right! Children don’t see or know race. Hopefully whoever raises them, teaches them to be a good person!
Bobby, I agree that racism is atrocious. Unfortunately, the American media (specifically the evening news) makes a profit from running stories that are racially charged. “If it bleeds it leads,” is only one of the many sayings that accompany media stereotype. In my community, the news tends to focus on African American males raping, killing, and robbing white citizens. It isn’t that minority citizens aren’t also suffering. The news is trying to scare the traditional, white, “Wonder Bread” citizens of America.
What happened to Linda is awful. Hundreds of women face similar fates every day in America. Millions of women face these horrors on a world-wide scale. The sad part: American society is built from a hierarchy. Furthermore, the patriarchy traditionally values all women as property. As with any system of worth, the more desirable characteristics your possession has the greater the worth. White women are seen as having a greater value because of their skin color. Therefore, when something horrible happens to a minority woman, her story is swept under the rug, replaced by a story of “greater value.”
It is awful. We do need to do something.
Erina Hart’s last blog post..Building the Foundation
@Erina Hart: That’s the USA! Anna Nicole Smith’s death received almost as much attention as 9-11. It’s just as much the people who watch and gossip as it is the media’s fault. My main idea in blogging is to help bloggers realize how much power they have in changing things.
This requires MUCH more than merely writing about it. 9 out of 10 personal bloggers will remain buried and ignored by search engines because they have no understanding of how the web actually works. SEO is what all money bloggers use because they have to to make money.
Regular non-money blogs don’t. That’s one HUGE problem. The money bloggers love the fact that the rest of us are ruining our own chances because of unacceptable web pages. You could write a physics equation that answers every question ever asked in mathematics but no one will care if you have a poorly constructed site.
Oh my…I am going on and on but I do know what I’m talking about. Racism has had a big influence on my life and I am thankful to have parents that taught me all people are people no matter where they are from!
Bobby-
Yup. I grew up “up North”, around Tupelo, in the hill country. My folks still live there. I am way up in North Carolina these days.
Hugh Hollowell’s last blog post..Talking ?Bout A Revolution
Wow, now that’s a powerful topic. I’m sorry to hear about the young girl, that is horrible.
I just love Brown Baron’s comment, that’s exactly how I feel too.
I grew up in a home filled with prejudice. One day my mother overheard me tell a friend I dreamed of marrying Michael Jackson (I was twelve). She screamed at me and demanded I remove all of his posters from my wall because I would never marry any black man. Now how demented is that?
I never could understand the reason for any of the racist stupidity and of course never passed any of it down to my children. My children are free, they have friends from every background and that’s the way it should be.
I cringe whenever I hear someone say something racist, and when I stand up and say it’s wrong I’m either ignored or receive a blank stare. It’s twisted, it makes no sense, once again you’ve written a thought provoking post.
Christy’s last blog post..This Week’s Blogging Tip - Keeping It Simple
That is sad. I agree the media turns a blind eye to certain issues and at times you’ll find people who prey on those who don’t have a lot.
Last school year I served as a group mentor for six fifth grade girls. They are very poor and live in a high crime area of the city. They always have people that want to use them as guinea pigs.
We had one of these people come to our session thanks to my mentor partner.
I talked to her about it and gave her reasons why this really was not a good idea, violation of trust, not letting the parents know, but she would not listen. I was not having it and went directly to the executive director about the issue.. There was no way I was going to let that person use our girls as guinea pigs for a project. They are just like other children and need to be treated the same way. That ended that little project.
Opal Tribble/Vegan Momma’s last blog post..Something New: Comment Luv Plug In
Hi Hugh! Tupelo is a beautiful area! I’ve been there several times
Thanks Christy! People spend so much time making themselves different from others based on all kinds of beliefs. My blog is and always will be about how much ALIKE we are. There are not nearly enough people celebrating the human race as a whole.
We are all in it together! Thanks for your comment! Your children have a wise mom!
Good for you Opal! I live 5 miles from a very high crime, drug laden area. It is amazing that any of these young impressionable kids ever make it out. Many do make it, finish school and make something of their lives.
Some kids with bad parents make it out too. Those are the ones who can see the error of their parents ways and they fight for their own independence.
I think what you did was a great thing! I see the Vegan Momma has the comment luv plug in too! I’ll come visit!!!
I agree with you! It’s important for children to have someone they can look up to I would say even more so children that live in these situations. It gives them hope. They were able to see that being a minority (black) does not have to hold you back in what you can achieve. I’m single black woman and I own my own business.
That was something that none of them had ever seen before. Also, for some of them, it gave the a different perspective of a black woman. I’m not the “stereotypical black female” I don’t limit myself to black only things they saw that and found it odd but after they trusted me they started exploring things they thought they could not since it was “white”.
It was sad but all of them had the notion that if a person was white they were automatically better than them. It was hard breaking through those stereotypes. I mentor one of the girls now and I might mentor a teenager I just need to see if I have that type of time.
Yes Ihave the plug in I’m always looking for ways to recognize and thank my readers.
Opal Tribble/Vegan Momma’s last blog post..Parenting: Doing The Right Thing?
What really drives me crazy is that more white people (the majority) don’t promote a stance against racism. Black people aren’t getting much help from white people and have had to fight for their equality.
It should be something people in the majority should help with. I think when you’re not in the minority, you get complacent. That is sad.
I love people from any race and from any country. I firmly believe in showing and wirting about how alike we are rather than how different.
We are all people and we all have something great to share with others!
When I see people who have this “I’m better attitude”, it simply drives me insane! It is so indicative of low self esteem and insecurity. Thanks Opal, this is a great little chat